Family Seeks 1.7m Baht After Fatal Police Shooting

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

A family in Nakhon Phanom is demanding 1.7 million baht in compensation after a 28-year-old man, Asadang Somphaew, was shot dead by police during a response to a disturbance call on 5 December 2025. Police have offered financial support for funeral arrangements but insist the payment is humanitarian assistance rather than an admission of wrongdoing. The incident has sparked questions over police conduct, with relatives disputing officers’ claims that the victim resisted arrest.

Asadang, known as Nu, had allegedly taken methamphetamine and experienced hallucinations, prompting him to ask his grandparents to stay close because he feared harm. His uncle, Ruk Singnuan, encountered him holding a machete under his arm and, fearing for the safety of family members, called the 191 hotline. Three officers from Nong Bo police station were dispatched, prompting Asadang to walk into a rubber plantation, where officers attempted to contain him from multiple directions.

According to witnesses, several gunshots were heard before Asadang collapsed near a pig pen with gunshot wounds to the left waist, with the bullet exiting on the right. Relatives at the scene said he did not resist and only walked away out of fear of being arrested. They also stated that police at the scene forbade photography, saying body-camera footage existed, though officers later told Na Kae police investigators that the shooting occurred because Asadang resisted.

The family has repeatedly requested police to release the body-camera footage and said they would accept the findings if it showed resistance as claimed. However, they report receiving no response from either police station involved. Concerns were also raised that officers had no equipment other than their firearms during the intervention.

Nong Bo station chief Pol Lt Col Sanga Intasathorn later delivered a wreath and a sum of money as funeral support, offering condolences while avoiding direct acknowledgement of excessive force. He proposed negotiations for compensation, which continued on 8 December, when he met the family again without the three involved officers to avoid confrontation.

Asadang’s grandmother, Cha Singnuan, who raised him since birth, said he was the main earner, tapping rubber on 12 rai of land and generating around 30,000 baht per month. She calculated the requested 1.7 million baht based on his expected earnings from age 28 to 60. The negotiation ended without agreement, with police saying they would reconsider the proposal and respond later.

Thaitabloid reported that police have not yet established a committee to investigate the conduct of the three officers. Pol Lt Col Sanga stated by phone that the financial assistance provided so far is solely for humanitarian purposes and does not imply acceptance of fault.

Key Takeaways

• The family is demanding 1.7 million baht in compensation following the fatal police shooting of 28-year-old Asadang Somphaew.

• Police provided funeral assistance but maintain it is humanitarian support rather than an admission of wrongdoing.

• Relatives dispute police claims of resistance and are requesting release of body-camera footage.

 Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna  2025-12-09